Folding bookrest



APTil 10, 1945. J. H. H. TIRYAKIAN 2,373,617

FOLDING BOOK REST Filed oct. s, 1942 2 sheets-sheet;

' INVENToR; y John /z/.f ryaz'an.

ATTORNEY vAll'l'l 10, 1945- I J. H. H. TIRYAKIAN 2,373,617

FOLDING BOOK REST Filed om.l s, 1942 2 sheetsfsheet 2v INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. '10,. 1945 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,325,617 1 l FOLDING'B-OOKREST John Haig H. Tiryakian, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application October 3, 1942, Serial No. 460,639l

Claims.

This invention relates to article supports or holdersand more particularly to devices for supportingbooks or sheets in convenient position for reading, though it is noted that in some. of the claims the invention is not limited to the speciiic purpose of the support or holder.

`One object of theinvention is to provide an improved device or apparatusv of this kind which may be collapsed to occupy avery small space, and which provides a strong, rigid and very convenient holder when erected. f

.Other objects of` the invention are to provide in a device of `this kind, improved locking means for locking the device in erected position, and improved means for holding the leaves or sheets in place when in use.

Additional objects of the invention are to effect simplicity and eiciency in such. apparatus and to provide an extremely simple device or apparatus of this kind which is economical, durable, and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Stillother. objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein detailsof the invention are described in the speciiication and some of the claims, the invention as described in the broader claims is not limited to these, and many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed inthe broader claims.

.The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with several book or sheet supports or holders, each of which briey stated, includes a base of suitable board on which a book or leaf rest is hinged at its lower margin for movement fromthe base to a raised position in which it is held by a suitablestrut. A ledge is secured across the front of the base near the front margin of the rest.

In two of the illustrated forms the ledge has its rear edgehinged to the outer front margin of the rest and is adapted to liesubstantially in the plane of the rest when the rest is in lying position; and automatic means are provided for raisingthe ledge whenever the rest is raised.

In two forms of the invention additional leaf holdingdevices are provided, and these may be provided in' all the forms if desired.

In the three illustrated forms of my inventionv the base, rest and strut are made of thin berboard, card-board, wood, plastic `or other suitable material, which may be painted or enameled with suitable colors or not as desired.

vIn yal1 forms suitable means are provided for 55 locking the struts in raised position, but these means may be omitted if desired.

In the accompanying drawings showing, byway of example, several of many possible `embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the formof the invention ofFigs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a .fragmental planshowing the strut locking means looking from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. ,4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5a is a side elevation of a book rest having parts similar to Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. ;5 is a side elevation showing the form of invention of Figs. 5 to 7 erected;

, Fig. 6 is a fragmental rear elevation of the device of Fig, 5;

Fig. 7v is a side edge elevation of the device f of Fig. 5 collapsed and folded at; Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the device of Figs. 8 to 11 erected;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan showing the strut locking means; l

Fig. 10 shows a section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmental plan looking from the line. I I,-I| of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the rest of Fig. 5, showing a book or sheet holder.

In all illustrated -forms of they invention, the

book holder comprises a substantially rectangu.

lar base I0 of suitable board, to which the leaf rest II is hinged as will be, explained. Theleaf rest is of thin board and is provided along the lower margin of its lower face with a thickening strip I2 of board adhered to said margin ush with the free edge thereof for thickening said margin. A flexible strip I4, or strips I4, I5, of fabric, leather or the like are adhered to and along the lower margin of the lower and upper faces of said strip I2 and to a Zone of said sup-V port I0 parallel and near to the front edge thereof to form a hinge between the lower edge of the strip -and said base whereby the rest is hingedly connected to the base for movement to positions near and parallel with the base and at an angle thereto.

Flexible strips of material I1 adhered to an edge of a rectangularstrut board I8 (Figs. 1 and 8) or I8 (Fig. 5), and across the lower face of the rest II along arzone near and parallel to the upper edge of the rest forms means for hinging the rest and board together for relative move-' ment to a position at against each other or at an angle to each other, the distance between the upper and lower edges of the strut board I8 or I8 being less than the distance between the hinge lines of said exible strips I4 and I1, whereby said board may lie flat against the top face of the base, with the bottom face of the rest lying dat on the board thus to form a compact assembly for shipping or storage.

The strut boards are held in raised position, as in Figs. 1, 5 and 8 by` different means.

In Fig. 1, a pair of spaced parallel cleats 20,

2I are secured on the rear margin of the base.

These cleats are the same thickness as said strip I2, and said rest I I may lie on said strip and cleats. The strut board I8 being as thin as said strip and cleats and shorter than the distance between the cleat 2| and the thickening strip I2 is dis posable between said cleat 2l and strip I2- The mid ipart of said cleats 20, 2I and the lower vedge of the strut therebetween are provided with transverse 'alined -'apertures 23, 24, '2 5, receiving a bolt 26 slidable in Vsaid apertures to lock the strut in place as .shown in Fig. 1. This holds the strut in place when the whole ldevice is lifted by grasping the 'rest I I.

If desired, the strip 2|, said .bolt 26 and said apertures may be omitted, since th'e strut raised as in Fig. 1 tends to move rearwardly and will be stopped by the one cleat.

In the form of invention of Fig. 5 the rest II and strut board I8' are tall for long sheets or books; and the strut board I8' when lying on the base extends rearward of the cleats, as in '7, and has two yrectangular cute'outs 28 adapted to receive alined vcleats 29 to allow the strut board to lie fiat upon the base. The rear part of the base Il! of Fig. .'1 just forward of the line of the forward edges of the 'cleats 29 is provided with a large :cut-out 29 having one straight edge extending perpendicularly forwardly from the midpart of said edge line, the cut-out being extended laterally from said straight edge. A latch piece 30 of base material fcut from, 'and of the same shape as, said largel out 29 and adapted to li'e. in and fill the eut-out has a straight margin 3| hingedly connected by strips 32 oi flexible material `to said straight edge, so that the piece is adapted lto move from the cutout to a plane perpendicular to 'sa-id base land the strut board when erected, the upper part :of the rear edge of said piece 39 being provided with a slightly vprojected rear lug lor projection 34 adapted when the piece and `strut board :are upright to engage in a slot 35 in the lower part of the strut board to hold. the pi'ece against the strut and to hold the strut `in .place against the cleats and base. f

In the forms of the invention ci Figs. 1 to '7 a narrow ledge or strip 38 ot board as thick as said rest II has its upper Yrear edge 39' `(Fig. 4) hingedly secured by a flexible strip 4B to the outer front edge of the rest. Aliiting bar 4I, 42 along the front edge of the base and composed or two superposed strips of board 41| and 42, together as thick as the rest II and vsaid thickening strip I2 together, has its. lower iront edge hingedly secured by means of flexible strips 43, 43 to the upper front edge of the base I0.

The lower front edge of the ledge is hingedly secured to the rear 'meeting edgeso'f the superposed vstrips by `means of a strip 46- adhered to the bottom of the ledge '38 and between the strips 4I., 42.

The width lof 'said bar .41, Hand ledge 38 is about equal to the distance between the upper front edges of the base and rest when the rest is in lying position, whereby the bar, ledge, rest and strut board i 8 may simultaneously lie in compact relation with the top face of the bar and ledge in the same plane, as in Fig. 4, and whereby when the rest is moved to its raised position, as in Fig. 1, the distance between the upper iront edges of the rest and base becomes less than the combined width of the bar and ledge, causing the bar 4l, 42 and ledge 38 to buckle upwardly on their hinge connection to dispose the ledge at an angle to the raised rest to form a support for the bottom edges of a book or sheets resting against Athe rest. Y

YIn the form of invention of Figs. 1 to 4, a gib 48 secured along the top face of said lifting bar and having undercut sides, carries a pair of slide lplates, 49 resting on said gib and having inturned lower anges 5o irictionally engaged under the undercut sides of the gib to allow longitudinal sliding vmovement of the plates longitudinal to the gib. Flat spring clips 53, 54. are pivoted as at 55 at their inner endson said plates 49 respectively, each clip having an upwardly curved and rounded outer end 56 (Fig. 1). Each clip .is adapted to be pivotally moved to be disposed longitudinally of the gib, asin the dotted line of Fig. v2, and may overlap each other. The clips may be moved lateral to the gib over the rest II, as in the solid lines of Fig` 2, to engage and hold sheets or the leaves of a book, each spring being inherently curved to press upon and hold the leaves in `proper position for reading. A keeper plate 58 is disposable over the springs when overlapped and provided with inturned lower flanges 59 engaging under the undercut edges to permit the vkeeper plate to slide on the gib to release the springs. Said springs are also re leasable by sliding the slide plates 49 away from the keeper plate 58.

In the form of invention as in Figs. 8 to 11, `the leaf-rest I I is hinged at the lower Iiront edge of the rest by the strips lI4 to a line oisaid base a short distance to the 'rear of the .front edge of the base. 'The support or ledge 38 for engaging the bottom fedg'e of the book 'or vsheets comprises `a thick bar composed of Ione or several thickness'es of material lsecured fast on the bas'e It. The ledge strip 38 .has its Vrear `face 39 disposed at an angle vto the rest I I when the rest is raised.

A pair of .alined cleats 20a, fast 'on the 4rear margin 'ofthe base, have their `ends 60 spaced apart to form a recess '61 in which ris-fiixedly mounted the outer end 52 of a spring -clip .62, 63 extending frontwardly oi lsaid recess and having its free end 63 and intermediate part spaced .from the base and adapted when the lower margin of the strut is `slid on the base to the cleats, to be received by a transverse aperture 64 in the Alower edge of 'the strut.

It is understood that the various illustrated ledges 38, 38', the strut locks and the clips 53, 54 may be Aused with any of the illustrated forms 'or other suitable forms `oi 'the invention, and that the forms of the invention as .herein claimed are not limited in the broader claims vto the various details .for carrying out 'the invention.

The sheet o-r book holder of Figs. 5i, A5a, i6 and 1.2 'may be applied to any 'of the species, and cornpr'ises a strip 10 of wood or other materialseeured across and nat against therear 'face of the .rest II 'and is provided .in its unexpose'd face with parallel longitudinal `grooves A1I (Fgba). co-- operating with the rest l li to lform'bores in kwhich are slidably received rods ory wires 12, each provided witha hookedgend 13, the hooked ends be- Iing disposed near opposite side edges of the rest respectively and disposable flat against said rear face. The hook is adapted, when the wires are outwardly drawn in the grooves to be placed frontward-of 'the rest for holding, sheets on the rest orto hold 'a book open on the rest. If desired, instead of the grooves 1|, the strip 10 may be provided with longitudinal bores H (Fig. 5) receiving ther wires 12. f The invention claimed is:

1. A manuscript or book holder comprising a base; a board leaf-rest provided along the lower margin of its lower face with a thickening strip; a means forming a hingebetween the lower front edge of the strip and a line of said base parallel, and'near to, the front edge thereof' means for holding the Irest raised; a narrow ledge having its upper .rear'edge hinged'to'the outer front edge ofthe rest; superposed strips forming oalifting bar. as thick as the rest and said thickening strip togetherv and y'having its lower front edge hinged tothe upper front edge vof lthe base; the lower front edge of the ledge being hingedly secured to the lrear meeting edges of thesuperposed strips; the .width of said bar and ledge being about equal to the distance between the upper front edges of thebase and rest when the rest is in lying position; whereby the bar, ledge andl rest may simultaneously liein compactrelation, and whereby whenvthe rest is moved to its raised position, the distance betweentheopper .front edges of the rest and base becomes lessthanfthe combined l width of the bar and ledge; causing the bar and ledgeto .buckleiupwardly on their hinge connection -to dispose the ledge at an angle to the raised rest.y y i.. .L

2. A holder comprisinga substantially rectangular base of suitable material; a leaf rest of thin board` provided valong the lower margin of its lower face with a thickening strip of board adhered to said margin flush with the free edge thereof fo-r thickening said margin; a flexible strip adhered to and along the. lower margin of the lower face of said strip and to a zone of said support parallel, and near A to, the front edge thereof to form a .hinge between the lower edge of the strip and said base whereby the rest is hingedly connected to the base formovement to positions near and parallel with the base and at an angle thereto; means to hold the rest raised; a narrow ledge strip of board as thick as said reist having its upper rear edge hingedly secured to the outer front edge ofthe rest; a lifting bar along the front edge of the base composed of two superposed strips of board, together as thick as the rest and said thickening strip together; the lower front edge of the barbeing hingedly secured to the upper front edge of the base.

3. A support comprising a base; a leaf-rest hinged at its lower margin to a line of said base near the front thereof; a pair of spaced parallel cleats on the rear margin of the base; a strut board hinged across the lower face of the rest near the upper edge thereof; thestrut board being engageable between said cleats; they mid part of said cleats and the lower edge of the strut therebetweeny being provided with transverse alined apertures; and a bolt slidable in said apertures to lock the strut in place and having a` downturned outer end.

4. A holder comprising a support; a rest on the support; a strip of wood secured across and fiat against the rear face of the rest and provided in its unexposed face with parallel longitudinal grooves cooperating with-the rest to form bores; rods or wires slidably received in said grooves `respectively .and each provided with a hooked placed frontward of the restvfor holding sheets thereon or a book open thereon.

5. A folding supportcomprising a base; a leafrest provided at the lower margin of its lower face with a thickening strip secured thereto; means hingingthe lower front edge of the strip tol a line of said `base near the front thereof, whereby elevating the rest causes `the upper front edge thereof to move forward; a cleat on the rear of the base the same thickness as said strip and on which said'rest may lie; a strut board hinged across the lower face of the rest near the upper edge thereof; the strut board being as thin as said strip and 4cleats and shorter than the distance between its hinged part and the thickening strip; a ledge strip having its upper rear edge hinged tothe outerffront edge of the rest; a

lifting bar having its lower front edge hinged to the ibase; the lower front edge 'of the ledge being hinged to the rear of the bar at a line spaced above the bottom of the bar; the width of said bar and ledge being substantially equal to the distance between the upper front edge ofl therest and the lower front edge of the bar when the rest isin lying position; whereby raising the leaf rest :causes the ledge strip to buckle upwardly, andnieans to hold the strut board against the base, whereby the last mentioned means holds the strut board,. rest and ledge in elevated position. f

6. A support comprising a base; a leaf-rest ,provided at the lower margin of its lower face rest near the upper edge thereof; the strut v board being as thin as the thickening strip and cleats and shorter than the distance between its f hinged part and the thickening strip; means to hold the strut board against the cleat and the base; a ledge strip having its upper rear. edge hinged to the outer front edge of the rest; a

' lifting bar having its lower front edge hinged to the base; the lower front edge of the ledge being hinged to the rear of the bar at a line spaced above the bottom of the bar; the width of said bar and ledge being substantially equal to the distance between the upper front edge of the rest and the lower front edge of the bar when the rest is in lying position, so that upon raising the leaf-rest, the front marginal portion of the upper face thereof forces the ledge strip forwardly causing the latter lifting bar to buckle upwardly. f

7. A folding support comprising a base; a leafrest provided with a thick front marginal portion; means hinging the lower front edge of said marginal portion to a line of said base near the front thereof, whereby elevating the rest causes the upper front edge of the rest to move forwardly and downwardly; means for holding the leaf-rest in raised position; a ledge strip having its upper rear edge hinged to the upper front edge of the rest at least as far forward as said line; and

a lifting bar having i't's lower front edge hinged 'to the base; the lower Afront edge of the ledge being hinged to the vrear of the bar'lat a 'line spaced near and -above the bottom of the bar.

-8. A folding support comprising a base.; a leafres't provided at the lower margin of itslower face with a thickening strip secured thereto; means hinging the low'ei- `front edge of "the istrip to a line 'of said base Anear the iront thereof., whereby elevating the rest causes the upper front edge thereof to niov'e forward; 'means for holding the leaf-rest in raised position; a ledge strip having its upper rear edge hinged to the outer front edge of the rest vat least as vfar lorward as said line; and a lifting bar having its lower front edge hinged to the bas'e; 'the lower front edge of the ledge being hinged 'to the -r'ea'r of the bar at a line spaced near the bottom of the bar; the width of said b'ar and ledge being substantially equal to the distance between the upper front edge of the rest and the lower front vedge of the b'ar when the frest is in lying position; whereby raising the leaf rest causes the ledge strip to be buckled upwardly.

9. A folding support Comprising a base; a rest over the base having a front margin having its lower front edge hinged to the base on a line at the front part of said base; a ledge having its upper rear longitudinal edge hinged to the rest on a line at the upper front edge of the rest; and a lifting bar having its front edge hinged to 'the base on a line over the base and its rear edge hinged to the ledge on a line at the front edge o'f the ledge; said line at thel upper front edge of the rest being at least substantially as far forward as said vfirst named line "of the base,

and said line at the front edge of the ledge` being disposed above a plane passing through said line at the upper front edge of the rest and said line at the front edge ofthe lifting bar n when the rest is in lying position, and `said aeraeiv front margin being. thick, whereby raising the rest causes the rear 4edge of the ledge to move considerably forwardly anddo'w'nwardly and causes the ledge automatically to buokle upwardl'y.

10. A holder comprising a basel; a leaf-rest thickened at the vfront l'rnargin of its `lower face; means hirx'ging the lower front edge 'of thethickened margin to a line of said base near the iront thereof; a strut 'means for holding the rest raised; a ledge strip having its rear edge' hinged to the outer front edge 'of the rest; a lifting bar having its lower front edge hinged to the base; the lower front edge of the ledge being hinged to the rear 'of the bar at aline spaced above the bottom of the bar; the width of said bar 'and ledge being substantially equal to the distanee be'- tween the upper front edge of the rest andthe lower front edge of the base when the rest is in lying position; a gib secured along the top -face of said Klifting bar and having undercut sides; a pair bf slide plates resting on said `gib and having inturned lower anges frictionally engaged under the undercut edges toy allow longitudinal sliding of the plates; a't spring clips pivoted at their inner ends on saidv plates respectively, and each having an upwardly curved and rounded outer end; each clip being 'adapted to pivotally move t0 be `disposed longitudinally of the gib in overlapping position, or lateral thereto to engage leaves of 4a book, each spring being inherently curved tu press 'upon and hold open the leaves; and a keeper plate disposable over the overlapped springs and provided with inturned lower flanges engaging under the underout edges to permit the keeper plate to slide on the gib 'to release the springs; said springs being releasable also by sliding the slide plates `away from the keeper plate.

JOHN HAIG H. TIRYAKIN. 

